About

LIGHT YOUR TORCHES is a father-daughter memoir. It will be a high-quality 9 x 6 hardback, approximately 475 pages, with approx. 150 photographs, and a full-color dust jacket. I know my father would be proud of it.

In printing and promoting this book, I will have the help and advice of friends who know all aspects of the book business. I have plans for a Book-Tour-By-Car, covering several states in the New York/New England area (and if I’m lucky enough to be overfunded, California, too!) I look forward to meeting readers, and hopefully some of you who will donate to this project. It would delight me to thank as many of you as I can, in person.

Tay Garnett's story begins with his birth, which, amazingly, was in 1894! I was his only child, born when he was 61. His memoir has been out of print for almost 40 years. But mine is new, and carries our family story to the end of his life in 1977, and my mother's in 2004. I had my own pitfalls and triumphs, growing up in that showbiz world. I made lots of mistakes, but also some good decisions. I've done my best to tell my story honestly.

As I state in the video, my father was one of the most successful directors during Hollywood's Golden Age. In 1973, he published a wonderful memoir recounting his days on the sets of such classic films as The Postman Always Rings Twice, China Seas, Bataan, and many more. His memoir was full of photos and hilarious anecdotes. It was also an incredible history of the Motion Picture business in its early years. This project will support the reprinting of my father's book, with my own memoir added.

My father was not just a director but a producer, screenwriter and even a novelist. (His book Man Laughs Back was published in 1935.) He was also somewhat of a visionary when it came to his work. In 1937, he sailed around the world with a film crew, shooting backdrop for his movie Trade Winds. That amazing footage is now considered valuable archives.

Tay Garnett was a true “Renaissance” man: an acrobat and swimmer; a pilot, a yachtsman and a traveler; a cartoonist, painter, sculptor, and musician; a writer of limericks and jingles; and even a first class cook of Mexican foods, as well as a baker of breads and cakes. He was also a bit of a dare-devil. As he was about to be released from the Navy, he agreed to help a student pilot get a last hour of needed instruction so he could graduate. Flying an N-9 pontoon plane (what Dad called a "crate") the student made all the wrong decisions and the plane crashed into the bay. Dad's right knee was so badly injured that he walked with a cane for the rest of of his life.

Another time, while filming The Delta Factor in the rain forest of Puerto Rico (1969) the car he and his cameraman were riding in catapulted off a cliff with a 450-foot drop. Onlookers were certain no one could survive. Amazingly, members of my dad's crew had taken courses in mountain rescue. They descended into the canopy below to bring my father's broken body back up the cliff, using a stretcher and ropes. I was only 13 years old. That night in our hotel room, I bargained with God for my father's life. If God would just let him stay with me a little while longer, I promised to accept it the next time he wanted to take him from me. That happened when I was 22 years old.

Tay Garnett was also a man who knew and dealt with adversity. Hollywood is famous for making judgments based on how you look, where you live, and how much money you have in the bank. By the time I was a teenager, my father's career had waned. Directing jobs went to younger directors. In a neighborhood where my closest friends lived in luxurious houses and drove fancy cars, my family and I lived in rented houses and drove aging vehicles that were once chic. It wasn't easy staying afloat in the almost mythic city of Beverly Hills. But we managed, and I'm stronger for it.

My father’s loving nature and infinite creativity have been the greatest inspirations of my life. There have been times when remembering his love for me has been the one thing that’s kept me going. This is why I’ve chosen the rewards I’m offering. Sharing these very personal rewards is my way of connecting you to the spirit of a truly exceptional artist and human being. It's my way of keeping Tay Garnett’s memory alive.

Support

Select this reward

Pledge $15 or more
About $15

I will email you a pdf file of the book. And SNAIL MAIL you a glossy 2 x 7 bookmark with my father's artwork on one side and our book cover on the other.**(PLEASE GO TO THE WEBSITE TO SEE REWARDS: www.lightyourtorches.com)

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Pledge $30 or more
About $30

You will recieve a hardback copy of the memoir, signed personally to you (unless you prefer otherwise) and a Tay Garnett bookmark. The book will be approx. 475 pages, with MANY photos, and this will be its selling price. (International: Canada, please add $15; Europe please add $25.)

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Pledge $50 or more
About $50

A personally signed copy of the book, the bookmark, and your choice of any 4 photos from Tay's Career Photos. (See my website for the Photo Gallery.) They are 8 x 10s and suitable for framing. Or I will send you a digital file large enough that you can make your own poster. (International: Canada, please add $15; Europe please add $25.)

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Pledge $100 or more
About $100

A personally signed copy of the book, bookmark, your choice of any 8 of Tay's Career Photos, PLUS a 16 x 20 poster of The Movie Magazine's cover, December 1915 issue. It was drawn by 21 year-old Tay Garnett and is suitable for framing. See website for image. Posters and prints will be mailed separately in tubes. (International: Canada, please add $18; Europe please add $35.)

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Pledge $300 or more
About $300

A book signed personally, the bookmark, your choice of 10 of Tay's Career photos, the 1915 Movie Magazine poster, PLUS your choice of 1 numbered print done for this project. Prints were made from 6 of Tay's original paintings. They are frameable, 18 x 24 from outside border, with centered image. Numbers 10 to 500 on each print will go to backers in order of pledging. Choice of print and # is First Come, First Served basis. (International: Canada, please add $25; Europe please add $40.) NOTE: You can switch the 10 photos for your choice of TEE-SHIRT.

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Pledge $500 or more
About $500

A personally signed copy of the book, bookmark, your choice of 12 of Tay's Career photos, the 1915 Movie Magazine poster he drew, Tay's 4-page brochure he published in 1915 (on the importance of becoming a cartoonist!) your choice of 1 tee-shirt and 3 posters done for this project (see website for choices) PLUS 2 of the numbered prints. (See $300 reward for info on prints.) (International shipping: Canada, please add $25; Europe add $50.)

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Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

Everything in $500, except you get 4 of the numbered prints, PLUS your choice of painting by Tay reproduced on canvas and suitable for framing, PLUS a box of 15 Christmas cards with Tay's "Poinsettias" as art and an Irish blessing inside w/green envelopes, PLUS your choice of mug designed for this project. (International shipping, please email for costs.)

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Pledge $2,000 or more
About $2,000

FOR THE ROMANTIC: "ONE WAY PASSAGE" PACKAGE. In 1932, my father directed the film starring Wiliam Powell and Kay Francis. The fascinating story of his involvement in that film as writer and director is covered in our memoir. Many film buffs who love that era of movie-making cite ONE WAY PASSAGE as one of the best comedy-dramas of that genre. But many folks don't know that Tay Garnett should have won an Oscar for Best Original Story. His 40-page treatment was filled with dialogue and even the idea of the glasses breaking. But he didn't put his name on the screenplay. So this is that night in 1932 as it should have been! (See website for visuals.) Here's what you get: Your own copy of my father's ORIGINAL 98-page screenplay. (The cover page is dated 5/3/32.)**PLUS 6 autographed books (for you and your guests) 6 bookmarks** a DVD of the film**Custom invitations in your name for a "premiere" party, perhaps on New Year's**2 custom-designed martini glasses for the famous toast**1 tee-shirt with photo of the stars**mouse pad with star photo**an Oscar (not real!) for Best Original Story, 1932, for Tay Garnett**1 poster (18 x 24) of the "Bar of All Nations" from the movie set**1 custom mug with film's poster art**1 linen tea towel with photo of the stars and recipe for their "Paradise Cocktail." (International shipping, please email for costs.)

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Pledge $3,500 or more
About $3,500

Everything in $2000--PLUS I'll come to your home if it's in NA, attend your premiere, and "accept" the Oscar for my father (which you will keep, of course.) Knowing my Dad's sense of humor, he'd love this idea. Despite his many wonderful films, he never won an Oscar.

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Pledge $10,000
About $10,000

A TAY GARNETT COLLECTION-A (see website for visuals) **TAY'S LIGHT METER, used on many of his movie sets. (I've got another one that I'm keeping.)**Your own Director's Chair, with Tay Garnett's name on back (or your own name instead)**1 copy of the new memoir, personally autographed, with bookmark**1 canvas reproduction of any of Tay's paintings on the website, for framing**Printed loose-page, spiral- bound copies of all of his out-of-print books:**(1-) DIRECTING, LEARN FROM THE MASTERS**(2-MAN LAUGHS BACK, a novel,1935**(3-)TALL TALES FROM HOLLYWOO, 1932**(4-) An original hardback copy of LIGHT YOUR TORCHES & PULL UP YOUR TIGHTS**DVD copies,1 each, of POSTMAN and CHINA SEAS**2 of the tee-shirts designed for this project**5 posters (1 of each image designed for this project)**40 career photos in a photo album**5 prints (you get #1 or 2 or 3 of each numbered print series)**1 Tay Garnett Cartoon booklet**1 Box of 20 Christmas cards with Tay's "Poinsettias" artwork**1 Christmas mug with same artwork**Plus, if you wish, your name mentioned in ACKNOWLEDGMENTS as a way to say thank you. (NOTE: These 3 rewards at the $10,000 level will come with a LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY from me.)

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Pledge $10,000
About $10,000

A TAY GARNETT COLLECTION-B**Tay's original (15.7/8" wide x 19.7/8" high) painting on canvas board that he did of his very good friend, the actor Broderick Crawford. (It's the only one of my father's works that I'm willing to part with, no offense to Mr. Crawford!) On the back, Dad signed and dated it, June '62. (See website for a photo.) Dad directed the man he called "Brod" in a few films, so I will also include DVD copies of "Eternally Yours" (1939) "Slightly Honorable" (1940) and "Seven Sinners" (1940). PLUS EVERYTHING in Tay Collection-A above except, of course, the light meter! If you have questions, just email me.

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Pledge $10,000
About $10,000

A TAY GARNETT COLLECTION-C**Tay Garnett's monogramed CIGARETTE LIGHTER, with TAY inscribed on the front. (Don't worry! My children have other mementos.) See website for close-up photo. I estimate it to be from the late 1940s-early 1950s since that's when he quit smoking.) PLUS EVERYTHING in Tay Collection-A above except, of course, the light meter! Email me if you have questions.